Energy spectra

Part of the measured energy spectra of deuterons that were emitted when protons collided with (a) a platinum-196 target creating platinum-195 (an even­odd nucleus) and (b) a gold-197 target producing gold-196 (an odd­odd nucleus). The peaks correspond to excited nuclear states. Also indicated is the spin and parity (a quantum number that can be +1 or ­1) of the states. Nuclear supersymmetry implies that the energies, spins and intensities of excitation of the negative-parity states (red lines) in the two nuclei are related through a mathematical transformation, and is well satisfied in this particular example.

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